Keep an eye on Baylor recruit Quincy Miller

The only people in the building were Miller, No. 1 NBA Draft pick John Wall, AAU coach Dwon Clifton, a few custodians, sports writer Pat Turner, who was hammering out a story about the night’s action at the FIBA U18 Championship for Men, and me.

Clifton founded the D-One Sports summer basketball program in North Carolina, a program that produced Wall. The two of them had come to San Antonio to visit Miller, who had also played for D-One Sports.

As Miller emerged from the dressing room that night, after another tournament victory for the high-powered Team USA, he saw Wall on the floor, hoisting jumpers.

Soon, the two clasped hands and exchanged greetings.

Outside, the team bus was leaving. But at Wall’s urging, Miller stayed behind. Next thing I know, Miller, who had just played a game and showered, joined Wall in an impromptu workout.

On the court, we had Wall firing from 3-point distance. Then, Miller. Then, Wall from 15 feet. Then Miller.

Over and over, from all angles on the court.

When it started, I thought they’d be done in about five minutes. Then I’d get a chance to interview Wall, who had recently been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Washington Wizards.

I was wrong.

Turner sat down, wrote his game story and packed up his computer — and Miller and Wall were still out there.

Into the night, the shooting drill went on and on, for about 45 minutes.

A few months have passed since that bizarre evening at St. Mary’s University on the West Side of San Antonio.

It came in the middle of a highly-entertaining international tournament, which featured teams from eight nations. I remember Miller as one of the top four or five players at the tournament.

Miller, a lithe, 6-9 forward from Chicago, was one of the top three players for Team USA.

Of the three that I thought were a cut above the rest, Kyrie Irving is now playing point guard for the defending NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils.

Shooting guard Austin Rivers will be at Duke in 2011-12.

Miller?

He’s on his way to Baylor, where Clifton had worked on Coach Scott Drew’s staff for two years before leaving the program last spring.

Baylor announced Tuesday the signing of Miller and Westchester (N.C.) Country Day School teammate Quddus “Deuce” Bello. Both are expected to join the Bears for next season.

As for the impromptu shooting contest between Miller and Wall last summer, I didn’t keep score.

But if memory serves, I’m pretty sure he held his own against Wall, who in only one year of college at Kentucky became one of the best players in the nation last season.

Late that night at St. Mary’s, as the custodian swept the floor, Miller said he was grateful that Wall had come all the way to San Antonio to see him play.

Wall referred to Miller as his “little brother” and said this:

“He’s got a chance to do something like I did. He’s a spectacular player. All he has to do is add on some build, get a little bit … faster and start taking the game more seriously.”

A few nights later, Miller hit a game-winning, 3-pointer with 25 seconds left as the United States beat Brazil for the gold medal.